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2014 Theriogenologist of the Year

Dr. Gregg Adams is honored with this award for his outstanding contributions to Theriogenology. Adams and his team developed a successful reproductive management program involving the wood bison, which is a threatened species. The novelty of the program included a noninvasive approach to estrous cycle manipulation, superstimulation of ovaries, monitoring follicular dynamics, artificial insemination, embryo flushing, and embryo transfer. The project’s success is based on the birth of live calves – a first!Additionally, Adams has recently served as the President of the 17th Congress of ICAR in Vancouver, BC, Canada in July 2012. This meeting, which is held only once every four years, was attended by approximately 800 persons from around the world. Adams is apparently the first ACT member to have earned this honor to organize and preside over a conference of a world renowned reputation for bringing scientists together to communicate and exchange information on the state of the science in animal reproduction. A responsibility of this nature can only be entrusted to an individual for his/her life-long scholarly contribution and who is recognized as an authority in animal reproduction. Adams continues to serve this world body on its executive and standing committees.

The above two accomplishments are the result of Adam’s longstanding (and ongoing) involvement as an educator, clinician and researcher in theriogenology. Adams pursued a graduate program and residency at the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus under the tutelage of eminent theriogenologists. Following his research/clinical training, he became a faculty member at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine and attained the rank of full-professor in a record time. To date, he has trained 19 students (10 MS and nine PhDs) and supervised two post-doctoral fellows. He has also co-supervised nine graduate students (eight MS and one PhD), and a postdoctoral fellow. Apart from his commitment to his own graduate students, Adams has also served on 23 graduate student committees (13 MS and 10 PhD). In addition he has supervised research projects of 52 undergraduate students). He and his colleagues have secured more than $25M in grant money.

Adams is recognized internationally for his work on ovarian function. He has published classic studies of ovarian follicle development, ovulation and fertility in both terrestrial and marine mammal species including bovids, equids, camelids, cervids, humans, and pinnipeds. Technical applications resulting from his work include hormonal and non-hormonal methods of ovarian synchronization and superstimulation, oocyte collection, in vitro embryo production and transfer, 2- and 3-dimensional ultrasonography, and computer-assisted image analysis of the female reproductive organs and pregnancy. He has won the University of Saskatchewan’s Distinguished Researcher Award and the SmithKline Beecham Award for Research Excellence. His current research focuses on an ovulation-inducing factor in seminal plasma, factors influencing oocyte competence in cattle, and synchrotron-based biomedical imaging.

Adams teaches Veterinary Anatomy in the veterinary curriculum and participates in team-taught graduate courses on Advanced Physiology and Endocrinology of Reproduction in Mammals, Advanced Bovine Reproduction, Bovine Reproductive Ultrasonography and Embryo Transfer, and Research Techniques in Endocrinology and Reproduction. He is a team member of the course Biomedical Rounds that was awarded the Provost’s Prize for Innovative Practice of Teaching and Learning, University of Saskatchewan (2008). Adams also consults on theriogenology cases admitted to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. In summary, he has and will continue to further awareness and understanding of theriogenology within the veterinary profession from students to clinicians, researchers, producers/breeders/conservationists that will have broad application among other professions and disciplines involved in human and animal reproduction.

Mission Statement

The mission of the ACT is to promote animal well-being, reproductive health, responsible breeding and genetic practices, and efficient management of breeding-age animals in agriculture, veterinary practice, zoos, preserves, and ecosystems. In particular, the ACT envisions development of focus areas in theriogenology to incorporate the following in theriogenology/reproductive medicine:

1. Population control for domestic and non-domestic animals including feral animals, free-ranging and captive wildlife.